XN000022-1989-05-17 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1989

9

UK HAS RESPONSIBILITY TO DO MORF

THE UNITED KINGDOM OWES ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO HONG KONG IN TAKING A LEADING ROLE IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN SEARCHING FOR AN EARLY SOLUTION TO THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE PROBLEM. THE HON KINGSLEY SIT TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING IN THE MOTION DEBATE ON VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE. MR SIT SAID HE HOPED THE GOVERNMENT WOULD REFLECT TO THE UK AUTHORITIES THE STRONG FEELINGS ON THE PROBLEM OF BOTH LEGCO AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, AND URGE THEM TO DO MORE FOR HONG KONG.

BE

THE

WITH

20

HE SAID IT WAS INCONCEIVABLE THAT HONG KONG SHOULD EXPECTING OTHER COUNTRIES TO INCREASE RESETTLEMENT OFF-TAKES FROM

FOUND TERRITORY WHILE THE UK

THAT 17 COULD ONLY MANAGE REFUGEES A MONTH FROM HERE OVER THE LAST TWO YEAR.

DISAPPOINTING

THAT IT WAS EVEN MORE

THE UK WOULD ONLY BE PREPARED TO ACCEPT 1.000 REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG ON THE CONDITION THAT OTHER RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES ALSO INCREASED THEIR OFFERS.

++

ABOUT

IF AT ALL OUR VOICE IS TO BE HEARD BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, THE UK SHOULD AT LEAST BE PERCEIVED TO BE CONCERNED THE PROBLEM," HE SAID.

SYMPATHY

ON MR SIT ALSO CALLED

THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID

ΤΟ WILSON, STRONG REFLECT AT THE COMING GENEVA CONFERENCE THE

FFELINGS OF THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY OVER THE LACK OF

OF THE REST OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR THE PLIGHT OF THE PLACES OF FIRST ASYLUM IN THE REGION.

"IF COUNTRIES LIKE THE U.S.A. ARE GENUINELY CONCERNED ABOUT

BE AS THE PROBLEM AND WANT US TO

HUMANE AS WE COULD BE TO THE ALSO BR HUMANE то VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND BOAT PEOPLE, THEY SHOULD OUR OWN PEOPLE AND DO SOMETHING POSITIVE ΤΟ RESOLVE THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF LEAVING US TO STRUGGLE ON OUR OWN.

INDEFINITELY

THE

SHOULDER "IT IS ALSO UNFAIR THAT WE HAVE TO HEAVY FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR THE UPKEEP OF THE BOAT PEOPLE ON OUR OWN.

THE

ΤΟ SOLUTION "IF IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO REACH AN IMMEDIATE

THE COSTS PROBLEM, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD AT LEAST SHARE FOR MAINTAINING THESE PEOPLE, HE SAID.

OF

·

+

י זיך

TURNING TO THE SCREENING POLICY MR SIT SAID IT WAS EVIDENCE THE

COMMITMENT CONTINUED

OF HONG KONG

OF THE PRINCIPLE

AND OUR ATTEMPT NON-REJECTION AND NON-REFOULEMENT OF ASYLUM-SEEKERS

OF PERSECUTION TO ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO HAD A GENUINE FEAR

FOR ONE THEIR REASON OR ANOTHER WERE NOT DEPRIVED OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE CASE.

WAS AN ESSENTIAL

THE NUMBER REDUCE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES,

HE SAID HE AGREED THAT THE SCREENING POLICY INGREDIENT OF THE DURABLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

OF REFUGEES AND THERERY EASE

AS

1T THE

COULD HELF BURDEN ON

/NEVERTHELESS,